So my girlfriend and I have been together for 4 years and her finances have "run out" for college. She will need to take out student loans for her last year and needs a co-signer. She approached me and asked me if I could but said it was no big deal if I could not and that she would just "find a way."

Now..."find a way" = credit cards pretty much.

I do plan on marrying her and the last thing I want is 7000 dollars of CREDIT CARD debt. Student loan debt at 6.75% interest is one thing but Credit card debt at 14-25% interest is disgusting. I almost want to just co-sign for that reason alone.

Anyway, I don't have a problem co-signing her loan, however; I do want to protect myself JUST IN CASE something happens and we break up.

Is there any type of contract I can find online or can anyone help me draft a contract that just stipulates that even though I'm the co-signer and even if we break up, she still has to finish making her payments. I mean I know I'm probably reaching here but there's gotta be something or some way to word a contract that's conducive to this scenario.

I'm confident nothing will happen but so were the thousand other guys/gals that co-signed for their significant others. I just don't want to be stuck in a mess where I co-sign, and we break up, and she decides, "F this guy, I'm not paying," or "F it, I can't pay the bills. Sorry." Either way, my credit is ruined.

IF I decide to co-sign, is there a way to PROTECT MYSELF? How?

Thanks a lot.